Can valve



E ELLIS CAN VALVE Flled Oct 16 1925 Dec. 28 1926.

Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD ELLIS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CAN VALVE.

Application filed October 16, 1925.

My invention is a can valve of the type used on cardboard or paper cartons, being usually placed on the top of a cylindrical can or carton to be used in regulating the flow of the produce contained in the carton,

in pouring or sifting the contents.

An object in my invention is the forming of a triangular shaped valve, with the apex adjacent the cylindrical edge of the carton to allow of a graduated flow of the contents. Another feature of my invention is in the formation of the meeting edges of the valve and the carton top to secure a wedging action, in closing the valve to provide a tight 1 closure. Another element of my invention isthe use of a spring metal cover forthe valve to reinforce the cardboard of the valve and to give the spring pressure to hold the valve tightly closed.

Considered generally my can valve is made by forming two converging slits in the top of a cardboard can or carton, these substantially meeting at the rim or outside wall of the carton. A triangular shaped piece of spring metal, slightly bowed upward is secured to the outside of the slitted portion of the top and functions to force the point of the valve outwardly, reinforcing the valve and making a tight closure.

stood from the following description together with the drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can or carton, showing my valve in a closed position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the valve open.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a carton, indicating the preferred position of the valve.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4+4 of Figure 3, showing the relation of the valve to the top and side wall of the carton and the manner of securing the spring metal.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional detail taken on the line 5-5 of Figure a, showing the bevelled slit in the carton top giving bevelled valve faces.

Figure 6 is a developed view of the spring plate.

Figure 7 is an edge view of the plate, showing the upward bulge or bowed section.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the spring plate before attachment to the valve portion of the carton. 55 Figure 9 is a detail perspective view showing the channel formed by the valve and My invention will be more readily under- Serial No. 62,899.

the adjacent portions of the top in pouring material out of the carton.

In the can or carton structure illustrated the body 1 may be made with card board or metal side wall 2 and may be made in shapes other than cylindrical as shown, which is the usual type. The top or lid 3 of the carton is preferably made of card board, having the usual flange 4, which is shown as glued to the wall 2, the joint being covered with a paper wrapping 5.

The valve is made by cutting two converging slits 6 and 7 from an inward location in the top to the edge, such slits being bevelled apart downwardly as indicated at 8. The slits are cut through the edge of the top to the upper edge of the wall as indicated at 9. These cuts form a valve flap 10, having as a hinge the uncut portion 11 of the top.

The spring metal strip is illustrated in detail in Figures 6, 7 and 8 and is designated by the numeral 12. It is triangular in shape and preferably slightly smaller than the card board flap 10. A prong 13 is bent downwardly at the base 14; of the plate and the point 15 is likewise bent downwardly. The body portion of the plate is bowed upwardly as indicated at 16. The plate is applied to the flap by either punching the prong 13 through the top 3 or forming a short slit for the prong to pass through and bending the prong as indicated at 17 and clinching as indicated at 18. The point 15 is bent over the end of the flap, turned inwardly as indicated at 19 and clinched as 7 indicated at 20.

The manner of functioning of my carton valve is substantially as follows :Gartons of this character are usually used for merchandising powdered or granular substances as salt, cleansing compounds, sugar and so forth, which it is desired to pour out in small quantities. The paper is usually pasted over the valve having markings indicating the line of cut to free the valve. After this paper is out on the lines indicated the point of the valve is engaged by the finger nail and hinged upwardly as indicated in Figure 2. The cardboard material, of which the top is made, is sulficiently flexible to allow the bevelled edges 8, shown in Figure 5 to draw past each other.

The material of the top has usually the wearing qualities to allow the hinging on the line 11 until the contents of the carton are exhausted. A person, with the finger engaging the valve may readily control the dew ot the contents of the carton in carefully graduated quantities on account of the Wedge shape of the valve and opening. When the valve is pressed closed the bowed portion of the plate 12 flattens out thus forcing the pointof the valve flap slightly out- Wardly, with the wedge or bevelled edges 8 in engagement. On pressing the spring plate after the valve is seated the plate is bowed in the opposite direction thus holding the flap in close and tight relation to the top of the carton and the upper edge of the wall of the carton body. Thus the whole construction forms a valve controlling the flow of th contents of the carton in graduated quantities and makes a substantially leak proof valve.

It will be seen from Fig. 9 that the converging slits 6 and 7 formed in the top of the can extend across the upper edge 9 of the side wall. This forms in eii ect a channel extending across the side wall, having the depth of the thickness ot the material forming the top wall. The construction With the triangular valve extending across the side wall thus allows all of the contents to be poured without having to shake the container. ll ioreover, the valve may be pressed partially closed so that only a very small quantity of material may sift through the above mentioned channel.

lvly invention although very simple may be departed "from considerably to suit special containers or different requirements and may be altered in shape and relative dimensions without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

Having described my invention what I claim is:-

1. A carton valve comprising in combination a carton body, a triangular shaped valve formed in one of the walls or the body, said valve having a flap oi the material of such wall, and integral with said wall on one side forming a hinge. and a metal plate secured to the flap, the side edges of the plate being parallel to the side edges oi the flap.

2. A carton valve comprising a triangular shaped flap cut in a Wall of a carton, the base of said flap being left integral with the material of the wall forming av hinge, a triangular resilient metal plate secured to the base and the free end of the fiap and having a bowed section between the said base and the free end of the flap, the side edges of the plate being parallel to the side edges of the flap.

3. A carton valve as claimed in claim 2 having the apex overlapping the side wall of a carton and the edges of the flap being cut on an inwardly diverging bevelled seat in the wall in which it is cut.

t. A carton valve comprising in combination a carton body having side, top and bottom walls, the top wall having a pair of converging slits extending across the upper edge of the side wall and forming a channel therebetween, a triangular shaped valve formed oi the material of the top with the base formed integral ther with, said valve extending across the top edge of the said side wall and forming a closure for the slit portion.

5. A carton valve as claimed in claim a, in which the valve has a triangular metal plate secured to its upper surface, the plate having a point-ed end extending over the apex of the triangular shaped valve and having a turned under portion bearing on the upper edge of the side wall. 7 6. A carton valve in one wall of a carton having a flap cut in the material of the wall, with a hinged side integral with such wall, a resilient metal plate secured to the flap at the hinged side. and the opposite side of such flap, the plate being bowed outwardly from the flap.

7. A carton valve in one side of a carton having a flap cut in the material of the wall with a hinged side integral with such wall, a resilient metal plate secured to the flap at the hinged side, and at the side opposite the hinge, the plate being bowed outwardly from the flap between the hinge and its opposite securing point.

In testimony whereof I have name to this specification.

EDNARD ELLIS.

signed my 

